Potential Grassley opponent “disappointed” in Grassley

One of the two men who have announced they’re running for the Iowa Democratic Party’s 2010 U.S. Senate nomination issued a news release last night, about U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley’s actions in the Senate Finance Committee.  Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, Iowa, will be seeking a sixth term next fall.  Read the news release below.

Fiegen expresses disappointment in Grassley votes on public option

CLARENCE, Iowa — Democratic Senate candidate Tom Fiegen today issued the following statement following Senator Grassley’s votes against a public health insurance option :
Senator Grassley’s votes today are a huge disappointment for many thousands of Iowans who have no hope of having health insurance without a public option.
His off the wall comments today are just more of the same distortions and scare tactics that earned him national ridicule when he talked about unplugging Grandma.

With a public option, not only will Grandma keep her Medicare, but her kids and grandkids will have a better assurance of health care.

Over 45 million uninsured  Americans and almost 270,000 uninsured Iowans are counting on Congress and the President to provide them with a public option for health care. By his votes and comments today, Senator Grassley is telling those people he’s not on their side. He’s on the side of the big insurance companies who have stuffed his pockets with campaign contributions.

Health insurance is also often too expensive even for those who have it, and they’re not getting enough coverage for their money. These “underinsured” Americans need the competition that a public option would bring to the market. Right now, it’s not a real market. Senator Grassley, get out of the way of the market.

Health care for all should be part of the social fabric of America. Senator Grassley’s comments show that he is confused about who the predators are in America. It is a shame that Senator Grassley would allow predatory insurance companies to threaten the financial security of so many Iowa families.

Fiegen is a former state senator from Cedar County and a bankruptcy attorney in Cedar Rapids. He is seeking the Democratic nomination for the 2010 election.